Auckland authorities not acting fast enough to mitigate flood risks, business and home owners say

A jailed gang member, Elijah Daveron, managed to import $15 million worth of drugs into New Zealand using smuggled cellphones while incarcerated. The drugs, totaling 50kg, were concealed in various items like meth-soaked book pages, hockey balls, and car seats, and were intended for distribution across the country. Daveron, a patched member of the Bloods with ties to other gangs, was already imprisoned for previous drug offenses when he orchestrated this operation. Full Article

SummaryTwo social media influencers, Te Rawhitiroa Bosch and Paaka Davis, have not complied with Government orders to cease promoting overseas casinos online, despite the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) enforcing a crackdown on such practices. Bosch, who values integrity over money, stated he will not advertise gambling, while Davis has turned down a $5000 offer for a gambling post. Along with Makaia Carr, they urge others to reject similar advertising offers, collectively boasting over 800,000...

As many as 30 pensioners are facing displacement from one of Hawke’s Bay‘s oldest pensioner villages, the Victoria Masonic Flats, which must be vacated within 90 days for rebuilding to comply with Healthy Homes legislation. The Napier District Masonic Trust communicated this decision on April 29, hoping to complete the new village in about a year. Residents are expressing frustration over the abrupt announcement and concern about finding new homes during a nationwide housing crisis...

Two farms in Central Hawke’s Bay have been sold to overseas buyers who intend to convert them into forestry. The properties include the 800ha Te Manuiri Station in Omakere and a 480ha farm off Middleton Rd in Waipukurau, with sales valued at $8.6 million and $5.2 million, respectively, as approved by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO). This follows the recent sale of another 1500ha sheep and beef farm in Elsthorpe, indicating a trend of foreign...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon discussed recent developments on Newstalk ZB following the Labor Party's landslide victory in Australia and announced over $2 billion for upgrading New Zealand’s defence helicopters. Two weeks before the budget, Luxon and Defence Minister Judith Collins revealed plans to acquire five new helicopters to replace the aging fleet. Additionally, Collins disclosed an extra $957 million aimed at rebuilding the Defence Force in response to escalating global tensions. Full Article

SummaryCorrections Minister Mark Mitchell is exploring the possibility of replacing short prison sentences with longer ones, as prisoners serving longer sentences tend to reoffend less frequently. With the current prison population nearing 10,500 and expected to rise, Mitchell suggests that the potential public safety benefits justify the significant investment required to expand prison facilities. He acknowledges that while the idea is straightforward, implementing such a change is complex and challenging. Full Article